Ruling device



Sept. 26, 1950 Filed Nov. 22, 1946 S. A. ZGRANIK RULING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. S75v5 A ZQAN/K S. A. ZGRANIK RULING DEVICE 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 22, 1946 INVENTOR. .ZGQWV/K WW m 4 M. W M

, vice capable of making carbon copies.

Patented Sept. 26, 1950 RULING DEVICE Steven A. Zgranik, Berwyn, 111., assignor to Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc., Santa Monica,

Calif.

Application November 22, 1946, Serial No. 711,646

Claims. (01. 101--93) This invention relates to a ruling device which I may be adapted to existing writing machines or become a fixed part of machines to be manufactured. V

For a long time a satisfactory device has been sought for ruling vertical columns on paper simultaneously with the printing accomplished by certain writing machines,.and especially a de- The most useful instance for such a device would be for tabulating machines. At the present time it is necessary to use ruled paper and because of the variety of information recorded, a large variety of ruled paper must be kept on hand. Often styles and procedures of accounting change, thereby rendering obsolescent most or all stock on hand. A satisfactory ruling device will obviate the present difficulties, and save the increased cost of the ruled paper.

A number of devices have heretofore been proposed for ruling paper on typewriters, accounting machines and time recording machines. Among such devices were: a combination which 7 comprised an ink pad over which disks were rolled prior to contacting the paper on the machines; an ink well together with pen or stylus which pressed upon the paper; or simply a device possessing no automatic features but requiring a separate and distinct operation to be performed.

These devices have not been entirely successful for a number of reasons. The pads must be inked and the wells filled frequently and adjustments are necessary to obtain'a line of proper density. Further, the device must be disengaged so that no ruling will appear before figures are to be printed and finally only one originalcopy may be made.

The device of the present invention not only overcomes such objections and deficiencies but possesses other advantages. With the device of the present invention, as many rulings as "desired may be made to separate the columns of figures. Thus, the use of the present device also obviates the necessity of large inventoriesv of ruled paper stock and prevents the loss heretofore had when ruled paper became obsolete.

A further advantage lies in the fact that no pressure adjustment of the ruling device is re-v quired upon the paper. When placing paper in the machine it is not necessary to exercise ex treme care to assure that the printed lines of ruling are straight with reference to the figures such as is the case when using a prepared ruled a paper. This advantage is emphasized'when .mu1-

tiple copies are being made since it is not necessary to exactly align the sheets of paper.

Other features and advantages of the device of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective View of the line printing plates of the present invention and the means for mounting the same in a writing machine;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the line printing plate of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a writing as a part of a writing machine schematically shown in Figure 3. In the writing machine th'ere shown, the reference character l0 indicates one of a plurality of type-carrying bars mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in a bearing i I. Each bar l0 carries a plurality of type segments 52, the latter being slidably mounted for movement transversely of the bar it. Although the type segments may be mounted in any manner desired so as to bring about the relative sliding movement, in the illustrated form of the invention each segment is formed with a collar l3 intermediate the ends thereof having a sliding fit in an enlarged bore M of the opening of the bar [0 in which the segments are mounted.

The bars I!) are raised to positions necessary to bring selected type segments into printing position by selective operation of one of a plurality of levers l5. To simplify illustration of the invention, only one of the levers l5 has been shown and thislever is pivoted at Hi to the like engageable in a notch or re-entrant opening [8 formed at the lower end of each bar I0. Each bar It is normally held in a depressed position by a spring l9 which, as will be seen, insures that the notch leis held in engagement with the boss I! of .the lever l5. The opposite end of each lever I5 is formed with a key or actuating knob 2| to the end that when key 2| is depressed the opposite end of the lever will The inner end rise to urge the type bar upwardly to bring the type segment [2 controlled by the particular key and lever combination into printing position relative to a platen 22 over which is to be passed one or more sheets of paper 23.

The bar it is held in this elevated position by the engagement between a dog 24 pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine adjacent the lower end of the bar and one ofa plurality of ratchet detents 25 formed on the lower end of the bar. The dog 24 is normally urged into engagement with the face of the bar Ill on which the ratchet detents are formed through a link 26 pivotally connected at its one end. to the dog and at its opposite end to a lever 21 which in turn is pivotally mounted at 28 to the frame of the machine. A spring 29 having one end fixed to the frame at 3D has the opposite end thereof connected to a lug 3| carried by the link 26. It

will be seen that the. spring 29 will normally urge the link 25 and thedog 24to the right as viewed in Figure 3 and thus hold the dog'against the face of the bar I!) on which are formed the ratchet detents 25.

The platen 22' is mounted fortranslational. movement through a pair of levers 34, each of which is pivotally connected. at'its lower end at 35 to .the frame of the machine. The upper ends of the lever 34 are rotatably connected respectively to opposite ends of an axle 36 of the core of the platen Whichcoincides' with the. axis of rotation of the same. Each lever 34 is provided with a laterally projecting arm. 31 to whichis pivotally connected the armature 38 of a. solenoid 39. When .the solenoids 39 are energized the armatures 38 thereof move to the. left to urge the platen 22 to the left aroundthe pivot points. 35 and thus urge the sheet of paper 23 carried by the platen 22 into printing engagement with the ribbon 4|.

The solenoids 39. are energizedthrough a circuit whi'chincludes a. suitable source of; current 42.

and a norma ly open switch .431 havinganactuating. key 44. The switch 43. also controls the circuits of apair of. solenoids v.45 mounted on opposite sides of the machine,forpivotalmovement about an axis 46. Energization of theooilsof thev solenoids 4.5 urges the cores. 41 thereof outwardly.

to swing a.pair of striker levers..4.8', eachv pivoted at ls to the frame of thewritingmachine ina clockwisedirectionto urge. a striking. bar. 50 extending transversely of. the machine and supportedby the levers 48.- into engagement with. hammer pins. M. A hammer pin is carried by the writing machine adjacent the writing position. of each bar wand. islnormallyheldin an inoperative position by a s ringjz acting against a col.- lar 53 having. a slidingfi-t in a carrier member 54 extending transversely of the machine atthe writing. position- It will now be seen that. depression of the key 44 closes the switch. 43 to simultaneously energize solenoids 39 and 45.. noids brings about movementof the platen 22 tothe leftas viewed. in. Figure 3 as the striker bar 50 ismovedinto engagement with the. hammer pins. 5| which strike. the type segments 12 in the writing position to move thesegments to theright and into, engagementwith the ribbon 4! disposed adjacent the paper carried by the platen.

When the key 44 is released the solenoid circuits will be tie-energized as. the switch 43 will now be opened. The cores of the solenoids are. now returned to their normal positions through the action of the springs 55and'56connected re- Energization of the solespectively to the lever 34 and the striking lever 48. The striking lever 48, as it approaches its normal position engages the one end of a coil buffer spring 58 the opposite end of which is adjustably carried by the frame of the machine. It will be seen, referring now to Figure 3, that the momentum of the lever will compress the spring 58 and allow the end 59 of the core 41 of the one solenoid 45 to engage an arm 6| laterally projectingfrom the lever 2'! to rock the lever 26 to the left and thus temporarily disengage the dog 24 from the ratchet detent 25. The bar I0 is now returned to. its normal position through the spring [9 which also causes the key 2| to move back into its normal elevated position. The spring 56 will have now moved the striking lever 48 to its normal position in which the end 59 of the core 47 is out of engagement with the arm 6| of the lever 21. With the end59 out of engagement with the arm 6| the spring 29. will again urge the linkage mechanism comprising thelevers 2'! and 26 to the right as viewed in Figure 3 to again cause the dog 24 to engage the face of the bar l0 on which the ratchet detents 25 are formed.

In the writing machine just described where it is desired. to separate the matter printed into columns it has been the practice heretofore to use a paper having printed lines thereon to divide the printed matter. into the columns desired. As a user of such a machine might need to print or record. a variety of information calling for diflerently ruled paper, a large variety and-stock of ruledpaper must be kept on hand. The device.

of the present invention obviates this requirement for the device will print at each writing operation a desired number of short parallel lines,

which lines will. form a. corresponding number of' slots 65 milled orotherwise formed in a. bar 66.

which is fixed 'to the carrier member 54 by some fastening means such as the screws- 61. slots 65- are so s aced along the bar 66 that they are disposed. between the type-carrying bars. [0-

to theend. that the lineprinting plates 62.1iev between the type segments carriedbythe bars 60.

To prevent disengagement. of a plate 62 from the slot 65inwhich it is mounted, a retaining member in the form of a strip 68 is clamped against the top surface. of the bar 56 by thumb nuts 69 engaging threaded studs Ill projecting upwardly from opposite ends of the bar'66. Thisstrip carries index means either in the form of numerals engraved in the strip itself or printed or otherwise formedlon aband such as shown at H andwhich is. permanently carried by the strip 68.

The. indiciacarried. by the band indicates to auser the relative positions of theslots 65" and the. type segments 12. to facilitatethe placing of the line-printing p1ates62 intothe desired slots 65.

The plates are so mounted in the slots that" the curved end faces- E3-proiect toward the platen. 22. As the bar .BBis mounted to the carrier member 54 contiguous to. the writing. position. the faces 63 of the plates 62. are disposed intermediate the platen and the normal position of the type face of the segments I2. It will thus be seen Each plate 62- is cut The that as the platen is moved toward the segments thepaper carried by the platen is brought into printing engagement with the ribbon 4| and the curved end faces 63 of the plates 62. As the curvature of the end faces is substantially that of the platen, the end faces form or print a short line extending in the direction of movement of the paper through the machine.

As these lines will be formed at each printing operation and as each line printed is as long as, or slightly longer than, the spacing of the transverse lines of indicia printed by the segments, continuous lines will ultimately be formed co extensive with the length of the column or columns of printed indicia. These composite lines, as should now be understood, form column-delineating lines along the paper passed through the machine. Since all of the characters which are to appear on a single transverse line are printed in a single operation, the plates 62 will strike in one place only once, and there will thus be no tendency to cut the paper by repeated blows in the same spot.

The spaces between these columns of delincating lines can be changed at will for it is only necessary to remove the nuts it to separate the strip 68 from the bar 65, remove the plates t2 from'the slots and then reinsert them into the proper slots. The indicia carried by the band ll serve, as previously explained, to indicate the relative pmitions of the slots 65 and the type segments I'Z to facilitate the proper positioning of the plates 62.

Although the end faces 63 of the plate 62 are formed to print a continuous line, it is obvious that these end faces may be formed to print any type of delineating mark desired. ihe end faces, for example, could be formed with a series of pro tuberances which would form a discontinuous de= lineating line which might be desirable in some fields of use.

Although the now preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto for the invention is susceptible to changes in form'and detail within the scope of the appended claims I claim:

1. In a writing machine having a platen upon which at least one sheet of paper is adapted to be mounted, a plurality of horizontally aligned, ventically movable carrier members, a plurality of printing members carried by each carrier mem ber, means for selectively moving one or more carrier members to positions in which preselected printing members carried thereby are moved into operative positions relative to said plat-en, and means for effecting relative movement between the printing members and said platen to form indicia upon said sheet of paper; a ruling device comprising: a support mounted adjacent said platen; a plurality of printing means having platen-engaging faces formed with line-printing means; means on said support seriately formed intermediate said type-carrying members for selectively mounting said line-printing means; index means carried by said support for indicating the position of said printing means relative to said carrier members; and means for holding said line-printing means against movement; whereby operation of said means for effecting relative movement of the printing members and said platen causes a portion of said sheet of paper to be brought into iprinting relationship between said platen and the line printing means to form column-delineating lines equal in number to the number of line-printing means mounted to said support.

2. A column marker attachment for a writing machine having a platen upon which at least one sheet of paper is adapted to be mounted and including a plurality of numeral printing members and means for effecting relative movement between said platen and said printing members to form columns of numerals upon said paper, comprising: an elongate supporting bar provided with means for mounting same on said machine adjacent said platen and parallel thereto; a series of spaced slots formed in said bar normal to its longitudinal axis; a plurality 'of vertical line printing means disposed intermediate said printing members; each of said printing means having a narrow end face conformable to the Working surface of said platen and each having a thickness less than the width said slots so that they may be mounted in selected slots to dispose said narrow lplaten conformin end face contiguous to said platen; whereby operation of said means for effecting relative movement of said platen and said numeral printing members causes said printing members to print on said paper and simultaneously causes the end faces of said vertical line printing means to form on said paper longitudinally extending Epredeterminedly spaced col umn delineating lines intermediate preselected indicia formed by said printing members.

3. A column marker attachment for a writing machine having a platen upon which at least one sheet of paper is adapted to be mounted and in cluding a plurality of numeral printing members and means for effecting relative movement be tween said platen and said printing members to form columns of numerals upon said paper, comprising: an elongate supporting bar provided with means for mounting same on said machine adja cent said platen and parallel thereto; a series of spaced slots formed in said bar normal to its longitudinal axis; a plurality of vertical line printing means disposed intermediate said printing members; each of said printing means having a narrow end face conformable to the Working surface of said platen and each having a thickness less than the width of said slots so that they may be mounted in selected slots to dispose said narrow platen conforming endface contiguous to said platen; and means for removably holding sadi line printing means in said slots; whereby operation of said means for effecting relative movement of said lplaten and said numeral print ing members causes said printing members to print on said paper and simultaneously causes the end faces of said vertical line printing means to form on said paper longitudinally extending predeterminedly spaced column delineating lines intermediate preselected indicia formed by said printing members.

4. A column marker attachment for a writing machine having a platen upon which at least one sheet of paper is adapted to be mounted and including a plurality of numeral printing members and means for effecting relative movement between said platen and said printing members to form columns of numerals upon said paper, comprising: an elongate supporting bar provided with means for mounting same on said machine adjacent said platen and parallel thereto; a series of spaced slots formed in said bar normal to its longitudinal axis; a plurality of vertical line printing means disposed intermediate said printing members; each of said printing means havaeaaeee ing a narrow end-face.- conformable to. the. work. ing surface: of said platen. and each. having a thickness less than the width of said slots so that they may be mounted in selected slots to. dispose said. narrow platen conforming end face con-- tiguous to said platen; an elongated strip of substantially rigid material adapted to overlie said slots. and said vertical line printing means; and means for securing said strip to said ban-Whereby operation of said means for effecting relative movement of said platen and said numeral printing members causes said (printing members toprint on said paper and simultaneously causes the end faces of said verticalline printing means to form on said paper longitudinally extending predeterminedly spaced column delineating lines intermediate preselected indicia formed by said printing members.

5. A column marker attachment for a Writing machine having a platen upon which at least one sheet of paper: is adapted to be mounted. and including a plurality of numeral printing members and means for effecting relative movementbetween said platen and said printing, members.

to form columns of numerals upon said paper,

comprising: an elongate supportingbar provided with means formountingsa-meon said machineadjacent said platen and parallel thereto; a series of spaced slots formed in. said bar normal toits longitudinal axis; a plurality of vertical line printing means disposed'intermediate saidprinting members; each of said printingmeans having. a narrow end face conformable to the working surface of said platen and each having a thickness less than the width ofsaid. slots so that they may be mounted inselected slots to disposesaid:v narrow platen. conforming; end. face:

contiguous. to saidplaten;v means for removably' holding said line printing means in said. slots; and index means carried by said support for in.- dicating-the positions of said line printing means. relative to said numeral printing means; whereby operation of. said means for. effecting. relativefl' movement of said platen and said numeral printing. members causes said printingmembers. to print on. said. paper and simultaneously causes the end: faces of said vertical line printing means to form on said paper longitudinally extending:

predeterminedlyspaced column delineating lines.

intermediate. preselected indiciaformed by said 1, printing; members.

STEVEN A. ZGRANIK.

REFERENCES CITED.

The; following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

